Pakistani Militant Leader Held For Two More Weeks

The head of a banned extremist group in Pakistan who was expected to be set free from jail will be held for two more weeks in a murder case.

Malik Ishaq, the head of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ), was expected to be freed on December 25 after the Punjab provincial government withdrew a request to extend his detention under public order laws.

Police said he has been detained and is being held in the city of Multan.

Ishaq's arrest comes as Islamabad ramps up its antiterrorism measures after an attack on a military-run school that killed 157 people, leading the government to set up military courts and drop its moratorium on capital punishment in terror cases.

A special court in Multan said Ishaq will appear before the judiciary again on January 7.